Match-box.



J. N. BRANYAN.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1911.

Patented Apr. 23,1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH IO-,WASHINGTON. u. c.

ENTTED STATES PATEN @FFTQE.

JASPER N. BRANYAN, 01-? BLUE SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI.

MATCH-BOX.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER N. BRANYAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Blue Springs, in the county of Union and State ofMississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in hIatch-Boxes,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match boxes and more particularly to pocketmatch boxes, and the object of the invention is the provision of asimple and convenient box which will deliver one match at a time.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which may be attached to the ordinary match boxes or carton soas to dispense a single match at a time therefrom.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specificdescription is read in connect-ion with the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of this application, and in which Figure l is a sideelevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4c is aperspective View of the device shown connected to the ordinary matchcarton. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device showingthe casing broken away, the plunger being in retracted position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing 1 represents a casing havinga width slightly greater than the thickness of the ordinary match andhaving a length to accommodate the matches and a height to accommodateapproximately one and onehalf dozen matches. This construction makes avery thin case which will take up little room in the pocket and whichmay be constructed very cheaply. The casing is provided with a hingedtop 2 which may be either spring pressed into position or held closed inany other suitable manner. The bottom of the casing is provided with anelongated slot 3 and a vertical slot 4: adjoining the same at one cornerof the device, the opposite corner is provided with a slot 5 in itsvertical side.

Slidably mounted on the bottom of the casing is a match ejecting plunger6 which is normally thrown so as to eject a match by means of a spring 7which is connected to a lug 9 projecting from the bottom of the casing.The plunger is provided with a binding thumb piece 10 which extendsSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1911.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Serial No. 604,616.

through the slot 3 so that the plunger may be retracted against thetension of the spring 7 and thereby thrown to a position where it willreceive a match from the casing. At the forward end of the plunger aguard'll is formed at right angles to the longitudinal line of theplunger and said guard is adapted to close the opening 5 when theplunger is retracted, so as to prevent the loss of matches. The oppositeend of the plunger is also provided with a lateral extension 12 whichlies in the aperture 1 when the plunger is retracted and is adapted toengage behind the end of the match so that when the plunger is releasedthe match will be moved with the plunger and projected through theopening 5 which is of sufficient size to permit the passage of one matchat a time.

The bottom of the casing is slightly depressed so as to form a cam edge13 arranged adjacent its forward edge and the plunger 6 is provided witha cam projection 14 adapted to ride over said cam face 13 when theplunger is projected so as to depress the guard 11, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2, whereby the match may be readily removed after beingpartially projected without any interference on the part of the guard,the guard being thrown downwardly out of line with the line ofprojection of the match, the cam projection on the plunger also servesto engage the corresponding recess in the casing when the plunger is ina retracted position so as to lock the plunger in this position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the casing is provided with a hopper15 at its upper end which communicates with the interior of the casingand with the interior of the ordinary match carton. Extending up fromthe hopper is a plate 16 which extends up into the carton and holds thesame in upright position on the hopper, the lateral flange 17 preventingthe carton from dropping down over the case. A suitable hole 17 may bemade through the plate 16 by which the case and carton may be suspended.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A matchbox comprising a casing hav ing a match dispensing opening therein, aspring projected plunger adapted to force a single match through saidopening at each operation, means carried by the plunger for closing saidopening when the plunger is retracted, means to flex said plunger sothat the closing means carried thereby will be thrown out of alinementwith the opening so as to allow the projection of a match therefrom,said means serving to lock the plunger in its retracted position.

2. A match box comprising a casing having a match dispensing openingtherein adjacent its lower extremity, a spring operated projectingplunger adapted to force a single match through said opening at eachoperation, means carried by the plunger for closing said opening whenthe plunger is retracted, means to flex said plunger so that the closingmeans will be thrown out of the path of projection of the match, saidmeans serving to lock the plunger in its retracted position, the upperend of said casing being provided with a flaring opening adapted toreceive the open lower end of an ordinary match carton so as to admit ofthe feeding of matches into the casing, and means for retaining thecarton in its applied position and for supporting the device as a whole.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JASPER N. BRANYAN.

Vitnesses:

A. J. DAVIS, W. J. DAVIS.

Zopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

